World Organ Donation Day 2022: History, Facts, How To Observe

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World Organ Donation Day is an annual event that aims to raise awareness about organ donation and encourage people to become organ donors. On World Organ Donation Day, people can pledge to become a donor, sign up to donate, or learn more about donation options. In addition, World Organ Donor Day encourages hospitals and other organ procurement organizations to increase the number of donors available for transplant. This day is a great opportunity to celebrate the gift of life and help others in need.

What You Learn from This Article

History of Organ Donation

In 1954, Ronald Lee Herrick gave his identical twin brother a kidney in the first-ever organ donation. The treatment was carried out by Dr. Joseph Murray, who also received the 1990 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his contributions to the field of organ transplantation.

When a newborn baby donated his kidneys to an adult suffering from renal insufficiency in 2015, he broke the record for the youngest organ donor ever. The boy was only alive for 100 minutes after his birth.

The oldest donor is a 107-year-old woman from Scotland who gave her cornea after passing away in 2016. A 95-year-old West Virginian man who gave his liver after passing away is the oldest known organ donor for an internal organ.

Importance of Organ Donation Day

Organ transplants are the sole treatment option for end-stage organ failure that affects many people. Patients frequently waste away their lives in agony while waiting for transplants that would give their life purpose.

In the end, the scarcity of organs and common misunderstandings about organ donation prevent millions of families from doing so, which results in the loss of many of these people’s lives. Therefore, it is essential to educate the public about the security of organ donation.

Facts on Organ Donation

Anyone of any age, caste, religion, or organization can donate an organ.
In the event of natural death, tissues from the eye, heart valves, bone, and skin may be donated as organs.
Only in the event of brain death is it possible to donate important organs including the heart, liver, intestines, kidneys, lungs, and pancreas.
Organ donation is not an option for those who are currently battling cancer, HIV, or another infection. Hepatitis B or C carriers, however, might be donors.
The donor’s family and estate are not charged for the donation of their organs.
The majority of the world’s main faiths support organ donation, and it does not alter the donor’s body in any way.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalDonorDay

Register to donate blood.
Share your experience if you have received the gift of an organ, tissue, marrow, platelets, or blood.
Consider donating your organs. For more information about organ donation, go to donatelifenw.org and organdonor.gov.
Post on social media with the hashtag #NationalDonorDay.

How can I get involved?

You can use our National Donor Day images and Donor Day Valentine’s Cards to spread the word about donation on social media in addition to signing up to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor or making a donation to the DLA cause. You can link these images to additional resources for your friends and followers to use in your local and online communities.

On National Donor Day, one way to remember loved ones is by visiting the Donate Life America Tribute Wall. You can also read our Stories of Hope, which feature uplifting tales of organ, eye, and tissue donors and recipients.

Find out more about what you can do to promote organ, eye, and tissue donation every day of the year and to support Donate Life America.

Conclusion

World Organ Donation Day is celebrated every year on 13 August. This day aims to help people who need an organ to be saved from death. Hence, it is always good to know your options when making a decision about being an organ donor. Due to the shortage of organs in some countries and the number of deaths every year due to not having one, everyone must make sure that they are registered as donors if they have the option.